A group of eight students and staff of the Ohio State University (OSU) in Columbus, Ohio recently visited the Brong Ahafo Association of Columbus, OH (BAACO). The group was part of a team of 21 research scientists that conducted an intensive research into the developmental challenges in the Offinso North District in the Ashanti Region in March 2011. The OSU staff and students were led by Professor Jamie Greene and Dr. Charisma Acey of the Knowlton School of Architecture, City and Regional Planning, OSU.

The project is named ‘African Development Support Initiative’ (ADSI). Briefing members of the Brong Ahafo Association on the aims and objectives of ADSI, Professor Jamie Greene said that ADSI is a voluntary collaboration of OSU staff, students, and alumni focused on exploring collaborative approaches to building capacity in Ghana. ADSI seeks to help communities help themselves. In Ghana, it is working hand in hand with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Offinso North District Assembly, under the able leadership of Honorable Samuel Appiah-Kubi, District Chief Executive.

In March 2011, ADSI identified and addressed challenges that exist within the Offinso North District. The themes included agricultural productivity, healthcare, education, transportation, and energy needs. The rest were town planning (– managing growth of populations), revenue mobilization, HIV/AIDS, and creative finance (– how to help finance groups for productive activity to scale up).

In each area that was identified, ADSI implemented actions. On renewable sources of energy, for instance, they constructed biogas digesters that convert human waste into gas for use by small families. Local plumbers and electricians were trained to continue constructing more biogas digesters.

Each of the visitors at the BAACO meeting shared their experience in Ghana. They were full of praise for the Ghanaian people they met and thanked them for their hospitality, and respect given them.

By working together with OSU and KNUST, ADSI expects to be able to compliment the Ghana government’s efforts in bringing solutions to the challenges facing the communities. It also expects the initiative to be a success story that could be replicated in other Ghanaian districts and in other African countries.

“ADSI welcomes all potential partners (public and private) needed to achieve their desired objective”, concluded Professor Greene.

ADSI seeks to meet members of the Ghanaian community in the Columbus area. Their current contact person is Nana Odeneho Osei Kwabena, former Chairman of the Brong Ahafo Association of Columbus.

The Chairman of the Brong Ahafo Association of Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Daniel Asante, commended the ADSI participants for the immense work that they have started to assist us. He also urged members to volunteer to help the staff and students of OSU.